It was a lengthy County Commission meeting Monday night after several items took time to discuss and a five-minute recess was taken.

The position of Constables in Claiborne County was abolished with a vote of fifteen for, five against and one pass vote.

Before the roll-call vote was taken, extensive discussion took place within the commission.

Larry Raines, President of the Tennessee Constable Council, was at the meeting on the behalf of the position of Constable in Claiborne County.

“We have a very good working relationship with the county and law enforcement in Fentress county,” he said, “I just wanted to tell you how beneficial the office of Constable is in the State of Tennessee.”

Raines went on to say that the actions that have occurred here in Claiborne County are very rare and are unheard of. He said that the one or two that get out and do their job are not noticed because of the negative actions that take place.

“If you move to abolish the office tonight, you have no more constables in Claiborne County,” Raines said, “I know in our county we arrest a lot of DUI’s in our county, I know the next family that gets run over, could there have been a Constable around? You will never know. You’ve got to look at all angles. We’re here to provide a function for the people.”

Chairman David Mundy asked the commission if anyone had any other questions or comments to bring before Raines.

Wayne Lee with the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office stood up and brought it before Raines the number that he researched through the Tennessee Comptroller.

Lee stated that the number of Constables in Tennessee is closer to 400 and not 500 and that only 140 of those are trained a year. He stated that the training that has been required of Constables has been in place since 1996.

Raines said that there are two groups that train in Tennessee. The Tennessee Constables Association and the Tennessee Constables Council and that the council trains over one hundred people and the Comptroller got their information from them.

“Also, in that report, didn’t the Tennessee and the association say that most of these guys that run for constable only wanna do it for the purpose of carrying a gun and a badge?” Lee asked.

“That’s true, there’s a lot of them that does, but there’s no teeth in that law that require those constables to go to school,” Raines said, “This new law will do that.”

Before the board could vote, Constable Ronnie Hurst stood before the commission and defended his actions.

“I would like to say that when someone is arrested that they are innocent until proven guilty,” he said, “But it seems like when a lawsuit is filed against you, you’re guilty until proven innocent. The lawsuit against me is still pending.”

Hurst continued as he turned toward each member of the Commission, “I’m not going to comment directly on all the allegations, I’m just going to say that a lot of them are false and made up lies. I did not in no way detain Mrs. Green, I did not state anything appropriate to her, I have not in no way been stalking her.”

Chairman Mundy interrupted Hurst before he could go any further because he did not want to get County Commission involved.

When roll call vote was taken to abolish the position, fifteen commissioners voted for, five voted against and one commissioner passed.

The Board of Education Trane Energy Project was approgved by the board through roll call vote.

Nancy McBee with Trane presented the audit findings that will guarantee energy savings for the Claiborne County Board of Education.

The project began in April of 2009 when the school board authorized Trane to audit each school. They presented their findings before the school board in the February meeting and brought it before County Commission Monday to get the project approved.

They guaranteed that there would be no new tax dollars and that the project will pay for itself.

They evaluated the findings and some commissioners were concerned that the lighting systems in both high schools were on the list to be replaced.

“The lighting system used in the high school is being phased out,” McBee said, “Eventually you won’t be able to find those lights.”

Among the lights, air systems are on the list to be fixed or replaced.

The loan amount for the Trane project will be $4.8-million and the rest of the money will be paid for through grants they will be getting. If the energy savings do not reach their guaranteed amount then Trane will write a check to make up for the difference.

“You’re approving applying for it and applying for the rates that will make this work,” Michael Tuten from Claiborne County Finance Office said, “You’re approving to go out for the various bonds, if they come back higher than the rates then we cannot do it.”

Representatives from Trane discussed the contract further before a roll call vote was taken.

The motion passed with 19 commissioners voting for it.

Charlie Widner with Pleasant Point Church took the microphone and stood before County Commission.

“I really don’t know what to say since Jimmy gave us the news that there is possibly a lawsuit,” Widner said, “I don’t understand how there can be a lawsuit over something that you all gave away?”

“We can’t get into details if there is litigation,” Chairman Mundy said, “If you have something to say, then say it but we can’t make a comment.”

“Respectfully, I would like for you to amend what you did in December,” Widner said, “I guess that’s all I have to say.”

The commission voted to table the sale of land to WNTT since there is conflict in the contract after adopting the Financial Act of 1981.

The commission will bring a certified appraiser in to look at the property and report on it next month.

The commission also approved building repairs, copy fees from the election office, the highway budget amendment and sending a letter to Nashville concerning TWRA.

The next meeting of the Claiborne County Commission will be on Monday, April 19 at 7:30 at the courthouse.